Equality and Diversity
Meeting The Needs Of A Diverse Population
Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust is an organisation with a clear commitment to providing equal access to the information and services we provide and working to ensure that our services are responsive to the diverse needs of all the people of Oxfordshire.
We recognise that people can experience discrimination, harassment and other barriers to participation and access to services as a result of different aspects of their identity such as race, disability, gender, age, sexuality, religion and belief.
Oxfordshire PCT intends to make sure that equality and diversity values are at the core of everything that we do.
Equality is not about treating everyone the same, it is about ensuring that access to opportunities is available to all by taking account of peoples’ differing needs and capabilities.
Diversity is about recognising and valuing differences through Inclusion, which can be based on age, disability, gender, racial origin, religion, belief, sexual orientation, commitments outside work, part time or shift work, language, union activity, HIV status, perspectives, opinions and personal values etc.
Contact Details:
Mary Hardwick, Equality & Diversity Specialist, Oxfordshire PCT.
Email: mary.hardwick@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk or telephone; 01865 336873.
The Equalities Scheme
In recent years equalities legislation has expanded in response to the changing world. Oxfordshire PCT has therefore developed a single Equalities Scheme which acts as an over-arching framework within which diversity, equality and human rights are addressed across all the PCT functions including policy development, commissioning and provision of services and employment. This Scheme will take the place of our Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes and also covers age, religion and belief and sexuality.
Equalities Act (2010)
The Equality Act (2010) came into force on 1st October 2010. Under the Act NHS organisations have a general public sector equality duty.
Click here to see more information on the Equailities Act 2010.
Equality Delivery System (EDS)
The Equality Delivery System (EDS) has been designed by the Department of Health to help NHS organisations to meet their duties under the Equality Act (2010). Click here to see more on the Equality Delivery System.
Equality Evidence
To find out what we have done about equalities click here
Click here to see our Equality Evidence page.